48. William the Mage.

Maria was quiet for a few minutes examining Will to see if maybe he was just guessing that she was Hunter. She couldn’t get a read on him. He seemed sure of himself and just looked her directly in the eyes. Almost defiantly.

She decided to play dumb.

"Why would you want to call me by that name?" she asked as nonchalantly as she could.

"Because, besides myself, you are the only person that shows up when I do my spell to look for just such a thing."

Maria tilted her head to the side, still not giving him any indication he was right. She had to keep him talking to find out what he really knew.

"I don’t understand." she said, "When you look for what exactly?"

He sighed.

"I was hired here to help protect the island with my magic." he said, sounding like he was talking to a slow person.

Inwardly, Maria smiled. He was thinking her slow or just not very bright. She felt better knowing she still had a small advantage over the mage. He may have found her out, but he really doesn’t know what he is up against.

Outwardly, her expression did not change.

The mage continued.

"I have wards set up on the island to catch people who try to sneak onto the island. Like invading armies of the king’s."

His face took on the look of someone who is not happy about the results of his work.

"But it failed to work the day you washed up on our shores. At first I thought I had set it up wrong. But after checking it over several times, I realised that it was working fine. Yet you still did not set it off. So I set out to figure out what was so special about you."

He motioned for her to sit.

"I don’t want to keep looking up, if you please."

She sat.

"A week went by and I still couldn’t figure it out and then I remembered a spell that showed magic where ever it was. I cast it and found that you were a source of magic. That would explain how you didn’t set off the alarms, you just made yourself unseen by them."

Maria thought it funny that she hadn’t known of the wards and had done nothing about them. It must have been a native part of her magical inheritance that made her invisible to such wards.

It made sense for her to have that ability when trying to sneak up on a target.

"That still doesn’t explain why you call me Hunter." said Maria, "Just because you say I have magical abilities, does not immediately make me this Hunter the tales speak of. Why do you suspect me of being that person?"

For the first time, Maria saw a little doubt cross his face. He had been guessing some stuff and now was not sure, because his initial hope that confronting her would have made her talk, did not work as he had hopped. When she hadn’t broken down immediately his doubts grew.

"Your aura is a little odd." he said, "I couldn’t get a proper read on it. I know of no human who can disguise their aura. So I at first thought you were a disguised demon or something, but then I remembered the Hunter’s tales that were going around and figured you must be that person. It would explain everything I had seen."

"And if had been this Hunter person, you know why I would be here." she said.

Will nodded his head.

"They say that Hunter goes after the people that should have died."

"Do you know why Hunter does this?"

He shook his head.

"Because the people who continue on past their allotted time, steal time from those around them."

She let this sink in.

"You mean if someone on this island were living past his time..."

"Your time and those of others living here would be shortened so that he might live." finished Maria.

He looked shocked.

"So if I were this Hunter you thought I was, would you really want to try and expose me and make it harder for me to find the one I was looking for, by letting them know I was here and causing your life to be shortened even more?"

"No!" he said, almost a little too loud.

Some of the nearby patrons turned to see what the commotion was and turned back when they realised it was not very interesting.

"But." continued Maria, hoping she was making a right decision here, "If I were Hunter and I asked for help, you wouldn’t say no would you?"

She knew that he was not the one she sought. He was unshielded to her and he was definitely not past his time, so maybe a mage would be able to help her find her quarry.

The question finally sunk in.

"Yes.. I mean no, I would not say no if asked. I like my life and these people, and if anyone is doing them harm I would help to stop it."

Maria smiled.

"I finish in an hour." she said, "How about a date tonight?"

Will visibly swallowed.

"A date?"

His voice cracked a little.

"Yes." said Maria, "How about it?"

"Sure." said Will.

"Drink your drink and I will come get you when my shift is over."

She got up and went back to the bar.

Peggy was grinning at her.

"What?’ asked Maria.

"Oh nothing." said Peggy, "But he is kinda cute."

Maria took a swing at her.

Peggy ran off giggling to herself and flashing a conspiratorial smile Maria’s way.

Maria smiled back. This was perfect. Let them think what they want, so long as they don’t see the truth of what is happening. Maria hoped that trusting Will was a good decision, but she was getting nowhere and she was not a true mage. He could look in ways she couldn’t and that may get her to close this one sooner than if she tried on her own.

Her shift ended and she walked over to Will table.

"Shall we go?’

The mage stood up and the two left the tavern. Maria could feel the eyes on her and Will. Some muttering was happening, followed by laughter.

When they were outside he turned to her.

"So what do you need me to do?"

"We can decide that when we get to your place." she said taking his arm and walking him in the direction of his home and lab.

Neither noticed the figure that broke off from the shadows to follow them.